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Lottery winner released from psychiatric facility

Lottery winner Margaret Loughrey was released from Gransha on Thursday.

STRABANE lottery winner Margaret Loughrey has spoken of her plans this week, following her release from Gransha Hospital in Derry.

Last month the North’s record-breaking lotto winner said she had been left “hurt and distressed” by the decision to section her in the local psychiatric facility.

Having contacted the Tyrone Herald’s sister newspaper last week, the Strabane Chronicle, Ms Loughrey said she decided to speak publicly about her situation because she wanted to dispel local perceptions and rumours about her condition.

Ms Loughrey shot to fame in December last year after she scooped £27million on the Euromillions lottery. The win was the biggest ever jackpot in Northern Ireland.

The millionaire claimed that allegations which suggested she posed a danger to herself or to others were untrue, which is why she immediately appealed her detention.

Currently Ms Loughrey says she is planning what she will do following her release on Thursday past.

“I’m glad it’s all over surely,” she said.

“I’m 100 per-cent fine. I feel now that I can get on with things, that’s me sorted. It’s happy days today.”

She added, “I’m going to get the new house sorted today (Friday) and then I’m going to Portugal to sort out a wee town house.”

It had initially been feared that Ms Loughrey could have been held in Gransha for up to six weeks before her appeal could be heard. However following the appeal’s lodgement through Ms Loughrey’s solicitors, Quigley, Grant and Kyle, she was allowed to go free.

A letter to Ms Loughrey from the Western Health and Social Care Trust said, “I wish to inform you that… you are no longer liable to be detained in hospital under the Mental Health Order (1986).”

The Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) said it could not comment on Ms Loughrey’s case.